YOUTH VIOLENCE REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

SEC. 1199. YOUTH VIOLENCE REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. (a) Establishment of Youth Violence Reduction Demonstration Projects.—(1) In general.—The Attorney General shall make up to 5 grants for the purpose of carrying out Youth Violence Demonstration Projects to reduce juvenile and young adult violence, homicides, and recidivism among high-risk populations. (2) Eligible entities.—An entity is eligible for a grant under paragraph (1) if it is a unit of local government or a combination of local governments established by agreement for purposes of undertaking a demonstration project. (b) Selection of Grant Recipients.—(1) Awards.—The Attorney General shall award grants for Youth Violence Reduction Demonstration Projects on a competitive basis. 119 STAT. 3133(2) Amount of awards.—No single grant award made under subsection (a) shall exceed $15,000,000 per fiscal year. (3) Application.—An application for a grant under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Attorney General in such a form, and containing such information and assurances, as the Attorney General may require, and at a minimum shall propose—(A) a program strategy targeting areas with the highest incidence of youth violence and homicides; (B) outcome measures and specific objective indicia of performance to assess the effectiveness of the program; and (C) a plan for evaluation by an independent third party. (4) Distribution.—In making grants under this section, the Attorney General shall ensure the following: (A) No less than 1 recipient is a city with a population exceeding 1,000,000 and an increase of at least 30 percent in the aggregated juvenile and young adult homicide victimization rate during calendar year 2005 as compared to calendar year 2004. (B) No less than one recipient is a nonmetropolitan county or group of counties with per capita arrest rates of juveniles and young adults for serious violent offenses that exceed the national average for nonmetropolitan counties by at least 5 percent. (5) Criteria.—In making grants under this section, the Attorney General shall give preference to entities operating programs that meet the following criteria: (A) A program focusing on—(i) reducing youth violence and homicides, with an emphasis on juvenile and young adult probationers and other juveniles and young adults who have had or are likely to have contact with the juvenile justice system; (ii) fostering positive relationships between program participants and supportive adults in the community; and (iii) accessing comprehensive supports for program participants through coordinated community referral networks, including job opportunities, educational programs, counseling services, substance abuse programs, recreational opportunities, and other services. (B) A program goal of almost daily contacts with and supervision of participating juveniles and young adults through small caseloads and a coordinated team approach among case managers drawn from the community, probation officers, and police officers.(C) The use of existing structures, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to operate the program.(D) Inclusion in program staff of individuals who live or have lived in the community in which the program operates; have personal experiences or cultural competency that build credibility in relationships with program participants; and will serve as a case manager, intermediary, and mentor.119 STAT. 3134(E) Fieldwork and neighborhood outreach in communities where the young violent offenders live, including support of the program from local public and private organizations and community members.(F) Imposition of graduated probation sanctions to deter violent and criminal behavior. (G) A record of program operation and effectiveness evaluation over a period of at least five years prior to the date of enactment of this Act.(H) A program structure that can serve as a model for other communities in addressing the problem of youth violence and juvenile and young adult recidivism. (c) Authorized Activities.—Amounts paid to an eligible entity under a grant award may be used for the following activities: (1) Designing and enhancing program activities. (2) Employing and training personnel. (3) Purchasing or leasing equipment. (4) Providing services and training to program participants and their families. (5) Supporting related law enforcement and probation activities, including personnel costs. (6) Establishing and maintaining a system of program records. (7) Acquiring, constructing, expanding, renovating, or operating facilities to support the program. (8) Evaluating program effectiveness. (9) Undertaking other activities determined by the Attorney General as consistent with the purposes and requirements of the demonstration program. (d) Evaluation and Reports.—(1) Independent evaluation.—The Attorney General may use up to $500,000 of funds appropriated annually under this such section to—(A) prepare and implement a design for interim and overall evaluations of performance and progress of the funded demonstration projects; (B) provide training and technical assistance to grant recipients; and (C) disseminate broadly the information generated and lessons learned from the operation of the demonstration projects. (2) Reports to congress.—Not later than 120 days after the last day of each fiscal year for which 1 or more demonstration grants are awarded, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report which shall include—(A) a summary of the activities carried out with such grants; (B) an assessment by the Attorney General of the program carried out; and (C) such other information as the Attorney General considers appropriate. (e) Federal Share.—(1) In general.—The Federal share of a grant awarded under this Act shall not exceed 90 percent of the total program costs. (2) Non-federal share.—The non-Federal share of such cost may be provided in cash or in-kind. 119 STAT. 3135(f) Definitions.—In this section: (1) Unit of local government.—The term “unit of local government” means a county, township, city, or political subdivision of a county, township, or city, that is a unit of local government as determined by the Secretary of Commerce for general statistical purposes. (2) Juvenile.—The term “juvenile” means an individual who is 17 years of age or younger. (3) Young adult.—The term “young adult” means an individual who is 18 through 24 years of age. (g) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2009, to remain available until expended.